Neingulo Krome
To make a long story short and to place my thoughts with critique support, I want to say that we cannot discuss issues of social or economic growth without addressing the political aspect of the human society under which all social and economic activities takes place. In other words, whatever social or economic issues that we may want to talk about, it can’t be discussed without acknowledging that Politics continue to dominate, let us say the welfare or growth of any issues that is societal in nature.
Having said that, allow me to confess that I am not a person who is competent to talk about any aspect of the human society on academic point of view. But I am here basically because I believe that academics shape the human society and the society in turn inspires and motivates the pursuance of academics for greater excellence. And more so, because the society in which all of us are part and parcel of, is also going through “a very critical part of our history”. (A catch-word that has been doing the rounds for a very long time with every change of political situations but which also never got its fair part of the “attention”)
I also must say, that many programs in this 21st Century emphasizes on themes with the word ‘Vision’ in many part of the world, without meaning to criticize in any way. But maybe that is because, except for prophets, astrologers and their likes, better part of the 20 centuries down the line were ruled by people who may not like or need to look beyond their toes or think beyond their nose. Or maybe because, people all over the world never really looked beyond their momentary spent of life and left the future to decide for itself? As if it was to say that dreams die first then, but now dreams must live and that it has become the responsibility of the present generation to act if posterity is to survive, for which ‘Vision this’ or ‘Vision that’ have come to stay.
To again talk of Vision 2020, with reference to Nagaland and looking 15 years ahead on issues of socio-economic growth, I must say, this is a new dimension in the mundane life of the people of Nagaland. Because some of us habitually did not want to think how Nagaland will look like even in the coming few years, with excuses that by then we will be “Independent” and only then real development, whether economic, social or religious will begin. While some others also may like to think that there really is no point in spending energy visioning 20 or 30 years from now, taking for granted that as and when political solution come, they will be relegated to the backseat and that freedom fighters will take over. (This part of the statement does not address the hierarchy of people in the political struggle or the State Government administration in any way as a whole, but does hold water for some who like to think so and otherwise, as far as the Naga political movement is concerned)
It is also equally true, that today’s Nagas are also only basking in the past glories without playing complimentary roles by even visualizing what the Nagaland our people fought for should look like when the time for reaping the fruits of all the sacrifices that were made come. So instead of blaming the past or present leaders, can we not also in our own responsibilities take cognizance of our accountabilities to the people whom we profess to serve as –whatever we are, a teacher or a student, a public or a bureaucrat, a civil society organization or a political organization and so and so forth. Not necessarily because nothing have been done, but because so much more should have been done.
Can we also for once look at how the Government of India has treated our social and economic concerns all this years? Every time we talk about even the basic developments requirements, they will keep saying, “without peace there can be no development”, “peace is pre-requisite for progress” and so on. This chanting went on and on but time did not stand still. There certainly have been a lot of developments in all spheres of life, including human resources, infrastructures and what not. What was Nagaland in 1947 and what it has become in 2005 is beyond any comparisons, as the necessities of life itself would have made society grow. On the other hand, for argument sake, if without Peace there could be no development, why is Nagaland so different now from what it was, despite being in a constant war-like situation all these years?
The truth is people were held at ransom to give away their rights and to sell their freedom for the sake of development. This attempt by and large could not succeed in the way governments wanted, but the people and what we call today “socio-economic growth of the State” did suffer. So as the saying goes; “You can kill all the flowers but you cannot hold back the spring”, Nagaland is what it is today although it could have been much better.
And therefore, to me as far as the nitty-gritty of the issues involved for the growth of socio-economic related activities are concerned, the list may go on and on and even endless. But if we want to nip it from the bud, can we start with Attitudes of people involved in all level of decision making and then Zero-in to begin an earnest “vision action plan for the all round development of Nagaland” as envisaged in the invitation letter of the Organizing Committee of this Seminar.
(Paper presented by Neingulo Krome, General Secretary, Naga Hoho at the Seminar on “Vision North Eastern Region – 2020 with special reference to Nagaland” Organized by Nagaland University in collaboration with North eastern Council, Shillong Held at Kohima on December 10, 2005, on the theme; “Issues for Socio-economic growth of the State”)
